Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

So the new neighbour has got a drum kit.

104 replies

AliceLittle · 31/10/2019 15:24

Moved in 2 weeks ago, has been playing the drums every single day for about 5 hours each time. Rather annoyingly they've actually got rhythm and aren't that bad but ffs, I'm 8 houses away and its so loud. I work from home and even my colleague on the skype call can hear it. I feel really sorry for whoever is directly next door to them.

Is there rules/laws against this sort of nuisance?

OP posts:
mymadworld · 01/11/2019 09:48

IMO unless you are detached or have a properly sound-proofed room, you practise at home on an electric kit with headphones or at least low volume. Incredibly selfish to carry on regardless for hours a day on a proper drum kit

Damntheman · 01/11/2019 12:19

I'm a musician (not a drummer) and I'd have suggested going around for a calm, quiet word with a hand outstretched in friendship to discuss how to make it better work for the both of you. Your neighbour's probably sick of getting yelled at so I'm sorry you didn't get a helpful response. He really should have the kit on carpet and have stuffed at least the bass with a towel.

Making use of the music centre ten minutes away is a bit of a silly suggestion though for a person with a full kit. That's not easy to transport. Professionals do usually practice 5-6 hours a day, it's very normal.

I'd advise you look into sound dampening for your own house as well as sound-proof headphones to keep your sanity. I'm very sorry, the council will side with the musician if it's within sociable hours and I'm not certain your neighbour seems to be the type to want to work together.

whyamidoingthis · 01/11/2019 12:35

@Thedoctor73 - But with a minister and so it's fairly loud yeah. And I live in a semi detached house.

I would probably even purposely turn it up louder!

You sound like an absolute charmer. Thankfully none of my neighbours are such inconsiderate assholes.

OP - I lived in a semi next to a guy who taught drums. Generally not an issue as he only did it during the day and we were out at work. However, he also used the pads to minimise the noise so while we could hear it if we were at home (crap house quality) it wasn't too bad.

Go talk to them and hope they're a bit more considerate than Thedoctor73.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 01/11/2019 12:37

They should be using a digital / electronic kit with headphones they are still really loud ,not quite as loud as a real one but really loud.

You need to go and have a chat.

whyamidoingthis · 01/11/2019 12:44

@Musicandad - whats the harm theyre honing their craft reapect it better than them roaming streets and getting in fights

So the choice is inconsiderate, anti-social behaviour whereby you upset your neighbours with noise nuisance or violent, anti-social behaviour?

How about behaving in a considerate way that allows you to practise without creating a noise nuisance? Pads, electric kit, headphones all do that.

whyamidoingthis · 01/11/2019 12:49

@Thedoctor73

And don't go thinking I'm being thoughtless This statement is contradicted by your previous statement so it's fairly loud yeah. And I live in a semi detached house.

Thedoctor73 · 01/11/2019 12:52

My neighbors are fine with me playing the drums. They even like it ! Man next door says he loves hearing me play. So am I being thoughtless? No I am being nice. I'm doing something nice for them. But if you want me to turn them down so they don't hear them then they will probably by thinking why has he stopped ? He was awesome! I just can't win with you lot.

Thedoctor73 · 01/11/2019 12:54

Look if someone asked me turn turn the drums down, I would turn them down. If they say turn them down a bit more I would do so. And that's what EVERYONE Should be like. As long as there not shouting/swearing then I'm fine with that.

SoupDragon · 01/11/2019 12:54

I'm doing something nice for them.

No you aren't. You're doing something nice for you.

Thedoctor73 · 01/11/2019 12:54

Didn't you read what I said. They said they like hearing me play?!

whyamidoingthis · 01/11/2019 12:59

I'm doing something nice for them.

Bullshit. You are doing what you want. The fact it doesn't seem to bother your immediate neighbours (what about all your other neighbours) is a happy coincidence for you.

SoupDragon · 01/11/2019 13:32

Didn't you read what I said.

Yes I did. Nevertheless you aren't "doing something nice for them" you are doing it for you and it just doesn't bother them. You would do it regardless, you've made that clear.

Thedoctor73 · 01/11/2019 14:10

Believe me I'm not doing anything wrong my neighbors are drilling outside at 7 am !!!! So I don't think me playing the drums will be a problem. Trust me, everyone is noisy around here hahah

whyamidoingthis · 01/11/2019 14:12

Believe me I'm not doing anything wrong

Yes you are. Just because your neighbours are also inconsiderate assholes too doesn't make it ok.

PinkSpring · 01/11/2019 14:22

I lived next door to an absolute wanker of an anti social neighbour in a terrace, he got drums and could not play them - just banged away for hours at a time to puss people off.

He would either refuse to answer the door or if he did tell you to fuck off aa he could do what he wanted until 11pm, etc

It was a HA property, long story short - he was threatened with eviction for anti social behaviour and eventually had the drums removed for refusing to stop.

stotty162 · 01/11/2019 15:50

see this is where the issues lie, the doctor has said again and again he would turn them down, that he would work with his neighbours if they asked, and originally he said to do things peacefully but then he gets a tonne of abuse like the last few comments, he has clearly had those conversations with his neighbours and they dont mind, yet some of you seem to think hes the guy getting to the OP...

you've clearly had issues with inconsiderate people but having a go at someone who is working with his street clearly makes you all feel better, i grew up learning the drums in high school, my neighbours had no issue with it as i practiced after school, normally 5 till 7 twice a week, then i would have band practices on a saturday, if the drummer communicates with his neighbours and theres no issue then great, but the rest of you need to breathe because having a go at others when they aren't the douche bags you've dealt with is out of line and probably not what the OP wanted at all....

Progrocer · 01/11/2019 16:14

I practice Drums everyday for about 3-4 hours, but only when my imediate neibours are out, my next door neibour has two dogs that bark all day when they’ve gone to work, and do so for 7-8 hours, weekends included, and can be heard all around, so i don’t think my drums should bother anyone.

whyamidoingthis · 01/11/2019 16:46

the doctor has said again and again he would turn them down,

And has also said I would probably even purposely turn it up louder! if someone was angry about the noise, and so it's fairly loud yeah. And I live in a semi detached house.

One neighbour has said they don't mind. I suspect many of the others do mind.

stotty162 · 01/11/2019 17:48

the bit u missed from that was if his neighbours came round guns blazing kicking off about it.... after he had advised calm.....
you would be the neighbour that would get it turned up on them.... coz u just turn round and shout about it... taking 1 thing he said and blowing it out of proportion....

stotty162 · 01/11/2019 17:48

madness.....

BoneyBackJefferson · 01/11/2019 17:54

How will I teach!?

You rent a studio and charge accordingly.

whyamidoingthis · 01/11/2019 19:46

@stotty162 - It's a bit rich you accusing me of not reading the post when it's patently obvious you haven't read mine. I said: And has also said I would probably even purposely turn it up louder! if someone was angry about the noise.

As is the convention on mn I bolded the exact quote but not the bit I paraphrased.

Maybe try reading in future before letting your imagination run riot creating ludicrous characterisations of posters.

Musicandad · 02/11/2019 17:15

@whyamidoingthis electronic kits dont have the real feel and dont give you respinse and technique silencer pads is all u can do or buy low volume heads and cymbals but as long as its at a resonable hour and they givebu a start and. Stop time theyre not braking law they're trying to learn and im a drummer its not possible for an un miced kit to be heard 8 houses away with all windows shut even with windows open it wouldnt be more than speaking level directly next door maybe but just because youve heard once walking by u want to say youve heard it worse still no balls to speak and compromise you all wanna either moan online or send in council you shoukd support and help him hes being constructive for shame on you all

MoobaaMoobaa · 02/11/2019 18:28

live next door to a to a guy in a band, in a 2 up 2 down terrace.

They egg boxed the whole back bedroom, thick curtains and had random rugs round the edges of the room, leaning part up the wall aswell on the carpet.

We could still hear loudish muffled music through the walls, but without all the sound proofing I dread to think how bad it would have been.

You couldn't hear much outside the house, definitely not 8 houses away.

Egg boxes and old rugs don't cost a fortune.

MoobaaMoobaa · 02/11/2019 18:29

should say 'I lived' not live